Treatment Options for Patellofemoral Arthritis

Purpose of ReviewTo present a synthesis of recent literature regarding the treatment of patellofemoral arthritisRecent FindingsRisk factors of PFJ OA include patella malalignment or maltracking, injury to supportive structures including the MPFL, dysfunction of hamstring and quadriceps coordination, lower limb alignment, trochlear dysplasia, patellar trauma, or ACL surgery. Special physical exam maneuvers include patellar grind test, apprehension test, and lateral patellar tilt angle. Radiographs that should be obtained first-line include weight bearing bilateral AP, lateral, and Merchant views. CT and MRI are used to assess trochlear dysplasia, excessive patellar height, and TT-TG distance. Non-operative management options discussed include non-pharmacologic treatment (patient education, self-management, physical therapy, weight loss), ESWT, cold therapy, taping, bracing, and orthotics. Pharmacologic management options discussed include NSAIDs, acetaminophen, oral narcotics, and duloxetine. Injection therapies include glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid, PRP, and other regenerative therapies (BMAC, adipose, or mesenchymal stem cells). Other treatment options include radiofrequency ablation and botulinum toxin. The algorithm for the surgical treatment of PFJ OA can begin with arthroscopic assessment of the PF articular cartilage to address mechanical symptoms and to evaluate/treat lateral soft tissue with or without overhanging lateral osteophytes. If patients fail to have symptomatic improvement, a TTO can be considered in those patients less than 50 years of age or active patients >50 years old. In patients with severe PFJ OA, refractory to the above treatments, PFA should be considered. While early PFA design and technique were less than encouraging, more recent implant design and surgical technique have demonstrated robust results in the literature.SummaryPatellofemoral osteoarthritis is a challenging orthopedic problem to treat, in that it can often affect younger patients, with otherwise well-functioning knees. It is a unique entity compared to TF OA with distinct epidemiology, biomechanics and risk factors and treatment options.     

Flexible intramedullary nailing for distal femoral fractures in patients with myopathies

Purpose  

Distal femoral fractures are quite common in nonambulating patients with myopathies, as they present marked osteoporosis. The deterioration of preexisting knee flexion contracture is a known problem, as these fractures are usually angulated posteriorly. The goals of treatment are to reduce immobilization and bed rest to a minimum, prevent function loss, and prevent refracture. The aim of our work was to investigate if these goals can be achieved by an operative treatment with closed reduction and flexible intramedullary nailing (FIN).     

玻璃酸钠治疗髋关节骨性关节炎的临床疗效

目的观察玻璃酸钠注射液治疗髋关节骨性关节炎的临床疗效。方法髋关节骨性关节炎患者36例,治疗组18例在关节腔内注射玻璃酸钠2ml,每周1次,5次为1疗程。结果治疗组治疗前VAS评分≥7．0,治疗后6个月时VAS评分为（2．75±0．06）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;6个月时总有效率高达89％（16／18例）。结论玻璃酸钠注射液治疗髋关节骨性关节炎疗效确切、持久,关节功能改善良好。     

Neurogenic inflammation in osteoarthritis of the knee

Abstract

The synovium in a knee joint has an extensive neural network in the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. In medial compartmental osteoarthritis of the knee, neuropeptides were most abundant, with an especially large number of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive free nerve endings. Some of the substance P-positive nerve endings were surrounded by monocytes. Substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide were found more frequently in the medial than in the lateral or suprapatellar areas. Substance P-positive free nerve endings showed more dendritic morphologic features in the medial region than those in the lateral and suprapatellar regions, and small nerves were accompanied by newly developed vessels in synovial villi. In the medial region, the synovitis was more remarkable than in the lateral region. Patients suffering from medial compartmental osteoarthritis of the knee complain of pain on the anteromedial portion of the knee joint when walking or standing. Therefore, these findings suggest that free nerve endings containing substance P may be implicated in the development and persistence of inflammatory synovitis and the pain pathway in osteoarthritis of the knee.     

An Extensive Literature Review of the Lumbar Multifidus: Anatomy

Abstract

Men and women with isolated osteoarthritis of the disc L5/S1 (excluding transitional anomalies) were compared against a corresponding group of healthy volunteers to see whether there is any geometric or statistical evidence that might constitute predisposing factors for isolated osteoarthritis of the disc L5/ S1. Arithmetic means, variances, standard deviations, and correlation coefficients were calculated for all the characteristics determined for the two groups. Multiple linear discriminant analysis was used to try to reproduce any classifications or groupings of the characteristic bearers on the basis of their characteristics. It was found that the position of the sacrum in the pelvis and the extent of lumbar lordosis are major predictors for isolated osteoarthritis of the discs L5/S1. To detect a predisposition for isolated osteoarthritis L5/S1, it is thus necessary to evaluate the position of the sacrum with regard to the pelvis and the degree of lumbar lordosis (excluding that of the fifth lumbar vertebra) in the angle system. This evaluation can be performed by measuring the dorsal inclination of the sacrum (the delta angle) and the Albrecht inclination.     

Knee osteoarthritis in women

Osteoarthritis is a disease that progresses over time and culminates in the destruction of articular cartilage and joints. Thus, with an increasing elderly population the treatment of knee osteoarthritis has become a major healthcare issue. It has been shown that women are more severely impacted by knee osteoarthritis. Differences in knee anatomy, kinematics, previous knee injury, and hormonal influences may play a role. Sex difference with respect to osteoarthritis presentation, treatment, and the allocation of resources also exists. In general, women present for treatment in more advanced stages of osteoarthritis and have more debilitating pain than their male counterparts. In addition, healthcare providers are more likely to recommend total joint arthroplasty for their male patients. Understanding how and why these gender differences occur is instrumental in formulating an inclusive strategy for combating osteoarthritis in the future.     

1α,25(OH)_2D_3对大鼠关节软骨细胞润滑素表达的影响

目的在细胞水平,探讨1α,25(OH)2D3对软骨细胞润滑素合成和分泌的影响。方法使用炎性因子TNF-α对大鼠关节软骨细胞进行炎症干预,分别添加不同剂量1α,25(OH)2D3至正常及炎症状态下的软骨细胞,使用ELISA及Western Blot方法分别检测细胞上清中和细胞内润滑素分泌表达的变化,从而评估1α,25(OH)2D3对大鼠关节软骨细胞润滑素的调节作用。结果 TNF-α可以明显降低细胞活性,以及细胞内和细胞上清液中润滑素的表达分泌。1α,25(OH)2D3可以升高正常软骨细胞以及炎症状态下软骨细胞的活性,但是不能调节正常软骨细胞上清和胞内润滑素的分泌和表达。对于炎症状态的软骨细胞,1α,25(OH)2D3可以明显提高润滑素在细胞上清及细胞内的分泌表达,并有一定剂量依赖性。结论 1α,25(OH)2D3能够促进炎症状态下的软骨细胞润滑素的表达分泌,从而更好的保护软骨表面。     

Effect of a patellar realignment brace on patellofemoral relationships: Evaluation with kinematic MR imaging

The effect of a newly developed patellar realignment brace was evaluated in 21 patellofemoral joints (19 patients) with patellar subluxation (13 joints with lateral subluxation and eight with medial subluxation) by using active-movement, loaded kinematic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Sixteen patellofemoral joints (76%) demonstrated a qualitative correction of or improvement in patellar subluxation (ie, centralization of the patella or a decrease in the displacement of the patella) after application of the brace. Four of the five “failures” occurred in patellofemoral joints that had patella alta and/or dysplastic bone anatomy. These results indicate that the patellar realignment brace was able to counteract patellar subluxation in the majority of patellofemoral joints studied, as shown by active-movement, loaded kinematic MR imaging. This brace appears to be useful for conservative treatment of patients with patellofemoral joint pain secondary to patellar malalignment and maltracking.     

MR imaging evaluation of knee collateral ligaments and related injuries: Comparison of T1-weighted,T2-weighted,and fat-saturated T2-weighted sequences—correlation with clinical findings

The objectives of this study were to compare the ability of T1-weighted (T1W), proton density/T2-weighted (PD/T2W), and fat saturation (FS) PD/T2W magnetic resonance (MR) sequences for depiction of the knee collateral ligaments and related injuries, and to compare MR findings with clinical findings. Ten subjects with normal knee ligaments and 64 patients with suspected collateral ligament injuries underwent coronal T1W, PD/T2W, and FS PD/T2W imaging. Abnormalities ranged from edema surrounding the collateral ligaments (grade I) to complete disruption of ligamentous fibers (grade III). FS PD/T2W images improved definition of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) compared with other sequences in 78% and 81% of patients, respectively. While the apparent grade of collateral ligament injury was similar with all pulse sequences in most patients, depiction of such injury was usually most conspicuous on FS PD/T2W images (MCL, 92% of patients; LCL, 38% of patients). In no patients were clinically diagnosed collateral ligament injuries undetected or understaged with MR imaging. MR findings indicated higher-grade MCL and LCL injuries than did clinical examination in 24 and 15 patients, respectively.     

Effect of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury of the Knee on Bone Mineral Density of the Spine and Affected Lower Extremity: A Prospective One-Year Follow-Up Study

The objective of this 1-year prospective follow-up study was to assess, with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the effect of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of the knee on areal bone mineral density (BMD) of the injured extremity and lumbar spine in two separate patient groups: 21 surgically treated patients (group A) and 12 conservatively treated patients (group B). Clinical and functional status of the patients and BMD of the spine (L2–L4), dominant distal radius, femoral neck, trochanter area of the femur, distal femur, patella, proximal tibia, and calcaneus of both lower extremities were determined at the time of the injury and after 4, 8, and 12 months. A surgically treated, complete ACL rupture (group A) resulted in considerable and statistically significant bone loss to the affected knee (distal femur 21%, patella 17%, proximal tibia 14%; P < 0.001 in each), whereas the other sites were clearly less affected. Patients with a conservatively treated, complete or partial ACL injury (group B) had only a small but statistically significant bone loss at the patella (−3%; P= 0.005) and proximal tibia (−2%; P= 0.022) of the injured knee, and the other sites remained unchanged. The obvious differences between the groups A and B in the severity of the injury itself (complete or partial tear), its treatment (surgical or conservative), and subsequent rehabilitation (longer nonweight-bearing times in group A) explain these different BMD results, and the forthcoming years will show whether the considerable posttraumatic osteoporosis in the affected knee of group A patients will finally recover, and if so, to what extent. Received: 16 June 1998 / Accepted: 6 October 1998